New Democrat Definition

Lacking In Hard Realities

April 17, 1994

I was saddened to read former U.S. Rep. John Anderson's column in which he clumsily tried to answer the most baffling question facing Americans today, "What is a New Democrat?" Anderson's analysis suggests that he has been suckered like so many others into believing that a New Democrat is moderate in his politics and staunchly pro-business. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Clintons, like most true liberals, firmly believe in an expansion of government, increased regulation of business and commerce, higher taxes and a transformation of the safety net (welfare, food stamps, etc.) into a safety hammock. It is precisely this governmental philosophy that drove the Great Society programs of LBJ no matter what problems society has, the government can solve them by either regulating the industry or just throwing tax dollars at the perceived problem. While the rest of the world is jettisoning this approach as a failure, the Clintons and other New Democrats think America needs a heaping helping of socialism.

It is profoundly nauseating to hear Anderson denigrate President Calvin Coolidge by associating his famous saying, "The business of America is business," with the likes of Bill Clinton. If Anderson would only utilize his powers of observation he would conclude that New Democrat or old, business is to blame for all that ails the United States. It is painfully obvious to most coherent voters that the definition of a "New Democrat" is someone who campaigns conservatively and governs liberally.